Preparing for Adulthood
Supported Internships
A supported internship is a bespoke study programme based primarily at an employer. They enable young people aged 16-24 with an Education, Health and Care plan to achieve sustainable paid employment by equipping them with the skills they need for work, through learning in the workplace.
A Supported Internship programme offers a range of benefits to young people. It can help to raise aspirations, build skills and confidence, better understand employment and progress towards paid work. Any young person can find the world of work challenging so being able to provide support to the young person can help them to transfer skills that have been learnt in classroom to the world of work.
A supported internship is a partnership between an education provider (where you will be enrolled) and your employer, who work together to help you overcome any barriers and gain the confidence, knowledge and experience to be able to work independently. You will split your time between a personalised study programme, which may include the chance to study for relevant qualifications, and your time on work placement.
As an intern, you will carry out similar tasks and duties to those of an employee, with the support off a job coach. A Supported Internship can help employers to see past the young person’s disability and helps the young person to learn valuable skills in a real work setting which can help to overcome any barriers that the employer may have. Supported internships are unpaid, and last for a minimum of six months helping you learn the skills you need to move into employment at the end of your programme.
If you know a Young Person who would be interested in an opportunity for a Supported Internship contact: [email protected]
Supported Internships in Telford
Telford College
The Supported Internship programme at Telford College is an exit programme for students with an EHCP who have completed their vocational or foundation programme and would like to move into employment
Information to follow from the college
Shrewsbury College
Supported Internship (scg.ac.uk)
Project Search at Shrewsbury College
The Project Search Programme is specially designed for young people who want to work in the NHS.
Project Search Supported Internship (scg.ac.uk)
North Shropshire College
Information to follow from the provider
South Staffordshire College
The Supported Internship programme at South Staffordshire College is an exit programme for students with an EHCP who have completed their vocational or foundation programme and would like to move into employment
Supported Internship – South Staffordshire College (southstaffs.ac.uk)
Derwen College Telford
Derwen College, a well-established further education provider for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), have a satellite site based in Telford since September 2020. Supported Internships can take up to one academic year to complete and help to prepare young people with learning difficulties for work. Job coaches support interns, with the aim to reduce the amount of support required by the end of the placement duration. Further information about Derwen College at Telford can be found here.
Supported Internships and Work Placements - Derwen College
Landau
Information to follow from the training provider
Nova
Information to follow from the training provider
UCAS – Information on Supported Internships
Amba who is a member of the FLARE disabled children and young people’s group, writes about her experiences of supported internships, and her hopes for the future.
Read Amba’s story - Council for Disabled Children